Farewell to Faridah & Jimmy: Killing of an Oriental Pied Hornbill

“I had become depressed about a recent event with poachers of hornbills and ‘lost heart’. Taken some leave to try and regain some hope.

“While in Miri (Borneo) I was kindly informed about the well know nesting pair of Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), fondly called Faridah and Jimmy. They have been nesting in the same nesting hole (below) repeatedly and have played a big role in maintaining the population of the birds in the park. They are credited with having produced about 56 offspring from observations. More details HERE.

“A few days ago I was distressed to hear that some poachers had caught and killed one of the hornbills (the female, Faridah), see HERE. The sight of her body dumped in a garbage bin was a bit too much to handle.

“There have been attempts to designate this location as a nature park as there are plans by the local authorities to turn the location over to developers. Some of us have signed a petition HERE.

“On a positive note: The death has galvanise the local population and there are hopes something may happen. Many news, blog reports and interest in birds in past few days in the region.